Young celebrities passing away from heart attacks have been reported frequently during the past 12 months. While some express their sorrow over the loss, others point out the brevity of life and express concern about the rising number of heart attacks among younger people.
Heart attack, cardiac arrest, and other cardiovascular disorders continue to be major global health concerns, although younger people are now more frequently detected and reported with cardiovascular problems. Despite the fact that there is yet no conclusive explanation for these instances, medical practitioners have identified a few possible contributing factors.
What is a heart attack?
A heart attack or myocardial infarction occurs when an obstruction or blood clot forms in the arteries and prevents blood from getting to the heart. Plaque, which is created when fatty deposits, including cholesterol, accumulate in the coronary arteries and restrict them, can suddenly obstruct blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack. Despite this, the majority of heart attacks can be fatal, making immediate medical intervention necessary anytime one occurs.
What causes heart attacks in young people?
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Cardiovascular problems have existed since time immemorial. It was neither recently diagnosed nor found, despite the fact that it has been wrecking havoc for a long time. The younger population is now affected by cardiac problems, departing from their traditional pattern of affecting only the elderly and people with pre-existing heart conditions. People have started to distrust the science involved and have been startled and concerned.
Although there is no certain age at which someone will have a heart attack, your lifestyle choices, food, exercise programme, and stress management techniques can all affect your chances. Few reasons which can be attributed are:
- Nowadays, there are no prior heart exams for young individuals. People who haven’t had a pre-cardiac checkup before going to the gym start lifting weights, which thickens the heart, working out on the treadmill, and doing cross training. Some people even consume substances that harm their hearts and can trigger arrhythmia.
- Due to elevated cholesterol or other genetic factors, many start to gradually acquire minor blockages in their twenties. The exertion on the heart, however, causes clots to form close to the already present blockages, which can result in clots and even a heart attack when the person experiences an acutely stressful event, engages in significant physical exertion without adequate training, or experiences severe biological stressors like an infection.
- Young people experience a lot of stress, including stress related to academic achievement, urbanisation, and lifestyle, which frequently results in smoking, drinking, and bad eating practises. As a result, the heart is under stress, which can result in a heart attack, cardiac arrest, or arrhythmia.
What is suggested?
The most crucial step is to have your heart checked. If a person has a significant family history of heart conditions, they should, if necessary, see a cardiologist or cardiac electrophysiologist. Altering one’s sedentary behaviour, reducing excessive sugar intake, monitoring lipids, reducing fat intake, and quitting smoking and alcohol use, which raise the risk of cardiovascular disease can save from such chronic conditions.